Long holiday for banks, CSE, semi-state organisations

This year’s Orthodox Easter break and May 1 holiday that follows translates into a lengthy break for work for some 9,000 employees in banks, the Cyprus Stock Exchange and semi-state organisations such as the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority and Cyprus Electricity Authority.

These employees will be off work from Good Friday till Thursday May 2. And for those who acted fast enough and got an additional two days off after the official May Day holiday, their break will last for 10 days – weekends included.

Specifically, banks will be closed on the following dates: Good Friday, April 26, Easter Monday, April 29, Easter Tuesday April 30, Wednesday, May 1 – May Day.

Employees of the Cyprus Stock Exchange are even luckier since they also got to celebrate Catholic Easter holidays. That’s why CSE was closed on Good Friday, April 19, and will also remain closed today – Catholic Easter Monday. Then comes Orthodox Easter, with the CSE closing down on Friday, April 26, Monday April 29, Tuesday April 30 and Wednesday May 1st due to May Day. They will be back at work on Thursday, May 2. At the same time, on holiday are also thousands of teachers at all levels of education because of the Easter break.

As usual, public sector employees in Cyprus are less privileged. Easter holiday is up until Easter Monday, April 29. However, some have probably asked for a couple of extra days off so as to take advantage of the Easter-May Day holiday.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance has informed that, in accordance with Regulations on the Operation of Shops and Terms of Employment of Employees, all stores have to remain closed on Wednesday May 1. In addition, specialised shops that will operate on that day will have to compensate working employees with a 1:2 ratio.

At the same time, holiday time does not apply to several other professions such as the Police, Fire Brigade, Mass Media, Medical and Nursing Staff in hospitals and private clinics.